Sports - Randolph Record

04 Aug

Pennsylvania driver nabs spot for Caraway event

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway, racing

SOPHIA — Matt Hirschman, a Pennsylvania driver, became the first driver to secure a spot in November’s 19th annual John Blewett Memorial North-South Shootout at Caraway Speedway. Hirschman did so by winning an open Modified Series event race at Star Speedway in New Hampshire. His $17,322.50 winnings for the result marked the largest payday of his career. There were 41 initial entries in the race. The next scheduled qualifier for automatic entry to the North-South Shootout comes Aug. 21 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem. On Saturday night, a full card of racing is scheduled at Caraway Speedway. Points races…

04 Aug

Prep baseball awards go to area players, coaches

Randolph RecordSportsAHS, Asheboro High School, Blue Comets, Cougars, Providence Grove, Randleman, Southwestern Randolph, sports, SWR, Tigers

ASHEBORO — Randleman third baseman Hunter Atkins was selected as the PAC-7 Player of the Year in baseball. Atkins's teammate Andrew Cox was picked as Pitcher of the Year in the league for the eventual Class 2-A state champions. The league’s Coach of the Year is Glen Hunt of Providence Grove. In the Mid-Piedmont Conference, Southwestern Randolph’s Bryson Hogan was picked as Player of the Year. Asheboro’s Brett Hoogkamp of the regular-season co-championship team was named Coach of the Year for the league.

04 Aug

Scoring big for Faith Christian

Bob SuttonSportsEducation, Faith Christian, Ramseur, schools, Trevor Brunson

With more than 2,000 points, Brunson reached new heights RAMSEUR — By the time Trevor Brunson reached the high school grades at Faith Christian, he was well-known on and off the basketball court. His name figures to last in the athletic department’s record books for quite some time. Brunson finished with 2,045 career points, averaging about 23 points per game in the process in a four-year varsity career. This was in the works for quite some time since he moved up to the junior varsity while still in eighth grade. “I got a lot of experience playing against older guys,”…

29 Jul

Copperheads navigate tricky season, seek playoff spot

Bob SuttonSportsCooperheads

ASHEBORO -- Closing in on the completion of a full season is an accomplishment in many ways for the Asheboro Copperheads, who are about to wrap up their Coastal Plain League baseball schedule. For first-year head coach Jeremy Knight, the challenges showed up at just about every turn but he was happy to have the chance to navigate the season. “Doing stuff like this is a great opportunity for me,” Knight said. A spot in the CPL postseason seems possible for the Copperheads, who entered the last week of the regular season playing at about a .500 clip for the…

29 Jul

City explores major McCrary Park renovations

Bob SuttonGovernment, Sports

Ballpark overhaul includes several stages, fundraising needs ASHEBORO -- The Asheboro City Council is looking for a collaborative project involving public and private money for a major renovation of McCrary Park. The city-owned baseball facility attracts thousands of visitors a year and a facelift is in order, council members have said. “We see this investment as a true form of economic development,” mayor David Smith said. “Tournaments and ball games at McCrary Park consistently bring people to Asheboro businesses throughout the spring and summer. These improvements will further strength our partnership with the American Legion baseball program, Copperheads baseball and…

28 Jul

Foust continues to shine in showcase event

Bob SuttonSportsProvidence Grove

Basketball player becomes first from Providence Grove as N.C. East-West All-Star ASHEBORO -- When playing for Providence Grove, Jonathan Foust made steady improvements on the basketball court the past couple of seasons. “Once he got comfortable, he did some really good things,” coach Wes Luther said. Much of that could apply to how Foust handled his role last week in the North Carolina East-West All-Star game. “I had a great time,” Foust said. “It was different from what I’m used to.” Luther became the first participant in any sport from Providence Grove to be selected for a North Carolina East-West…

28 Jul

Brinkley sweeps features at Caraway

Bob SuttonSports

SOPHIA – Teenager Blaise Brinkley won twice Saturday night to extend his points lead in the Late Models division at Caraway Speedway as part of the Hot Summer Clash. Brinkley, who’s from Sanford, claimed both features in the class, with JR Goode the runner-up in each of those 35-lap races. Tony Black was in third place both times. There were twin features in three other divisions. In the 602 Modifieds race, Rich Hunter and Jody Utt were winners in 20-lap events. In the Challengers division, Nathan Bess won the first 20-lap feature among 14 entrants. The second feature was captured…

21 Jul

Teen creates family connection at Caraway

Bob SuttonSports

ASHEBORO — When Blaise Brinkley is behind the wheel of his stock car at Caraway Speedway, there are all sorts of connections that surface. “I get told that every time I go race out there,” Brinkley said of spectators recalling his father’s racing days. “They said, ‘I watched your dad here and he was a wheelman.’ ” That’s in reference to Brad Brinkley, a past champion at the track. Now there’s a new generation emerging, with 18-year-old Blaise Brinkley leading the Late Models points as the 2021 season has passed the midway mark. “He races more like a veteran,” Brad…

21 Jul

Bucks win NBA title

Cory LavaletteSportsNBA

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo had the Larry O’Brien Trophy in one arm, the NBA Finals MVP trophy in the other and there was a cigar on the table in front of him. All the work it took to lift the Milwaukee Bucks from a team that won 15 games when he was a rookie to one with 16 wins this postseason was finally finished. “This is time to celebrate,” Antetokounmpo said. Milwaukee waited 50 years for that. Antetokounmpo ended one of the greatest NBA Finals ever with 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Bucks beat the…

19 Jul

Copperheads see plenty of UNCG influence

Bob SuttonSportsasheboro copperheads, Coastal Plain League, coppherheads, UNC Greensboro, UNCG

ASHEBORO — When something notable happens for the Asheboro Copperheads, there’s a good chance it could have something to do with one of their players from UNC Greensboro. The time this summer with the Coastal Plain League team has been an ideal proving grounds for the college players. “It’s top-level competition, really good,” said infielder Matt Kemp, who’s from Randleman. “It’s better than I thought it would be.” While Kemp is getting back in the swing of things after his freshman season, pitcher Jared Mathewson is trying to tune up for a final go-around at the college level. “It has…